Escrow device for coin operated mechanisms



Sept. 15, 1959 P. A. JOHNSON 2,904,151

' ESCROW DEVICE FOR com OPERATED MECHANISMS Filed Jan 30, 1957 v Y 2Sheets-Sheet 1 v Y I: 47 I l 51 5/ I T 59 65 58 l 56 o I J 1,9 58 5 5725 49 Ii 52 f 4 r F fi INVENTOR. 21 fiA/Z/P -4 JOA A/SO/V Sept. 15, 1959P. A. JOHNSON ESCROW DEVICE FOR com OPERATED mzcmuxsms 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 30, 195"! r \h m, w O M a mw 5 W4 M 4 a 4 W. a Q m ESCROWDEVICE FOR COIN OPERATED NIECHANISMS Philip A. Johnson, Van Niiys,Calif., assignor, by direct and me'sne assignments, of forty-sevenpercent to Lloyd F. Brogan, Santa Ana, Calif., and six percent toRichard L. Gausewitz,.0range, Calif.

' Application January 30, 1957, Serial No. 637,153 6 Claims. 01. 194-9This invention relates to escrow devices for coin-operated mechanismssuch as'vending machines and the like. In coin-operated mechanisms whichrequire insertion of a plurality of coins before a cycle of operation isinitiated, the coins are temporarily stored in .what is known as anescrow device. Such storage takes place during the time after actualinsertion of the coins, and

before commencement of the operation of the mechanism. The purpose ofthe escrow device is to permit return of inserted coins to the customerin the event difliculty has been the tendency of customers to attempt toobtain'a return of the inserted coins at the same time that the escrowdevice was attempting to transfer the coins into the coin storage box.Such a condition, however, is but one of a number of conditions whichhave resulted vinjarnming and service dilficulty relative toconventional escrow devices. V

In view of the above factors, characteristic of escrow devices, it is anobject of the present invention to provide a highly simple andinexpensive escrow device which is easy to serviceand'highlyreliable inoperation, yet which will perform all of the functions performed byprior art escrow devices.

A further object is to provide an escrow device which will not jam orresult in service difliculty despite attempts by the customer to obtainreturn of inserted coinswhile the coin-operated mechanismis commencingto operate.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be morefully set forth in the following specification and claims, considered inconnection with the attached drawings to which they relate.

-In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating an escrow device constructedin accordance with the present invention, portions being broken away andsectioned in order to illustrate certain internal components;

Figure/2 is an enlarged horizontal sectionalview taken online 22 ofFigure 1, the parts being shown in their normal positions assumedbetween vending operations; Figure 3 .is a view corresponding toFigure2, but illus trating (in solid lines)the positions assumed by the partsuring transfer of the coins into the coin storage box;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of'Figure 2; andV Figure 5' is a schematic wiring diagram.

I Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figure l, the apparatusmaybe seen to comprise generally a coin mechanism and slug rejector 10,the escrow device 11, a coin return box or chute 12 adapted to receivecoins both from the slug rejector and from the escrow device ll, and acoin storage box 13 adapted to receive coins from the escrow device. Allof these elements may be suitably mounted on a vertical panel 14 whichmay, for example, be one wall of a vending machine.

The coin mechanism and slug rejector 10 may be of conventionalconstruction and will not be described in detail herein. The illustratedconstruction incorporates a coin intake chute 16 mounted on top of thecasing 17 of the mechanism, the latter being suitably supported on panel14. When a slug is inserted into the mechanism 10, the slug passes fromchute 16 to the lower left portion of casing 17, as viewed in Figure 1,and drops through a vertical tube 18 directly into the coin return box12. The box 12, which is also suitably mounted on panel 14, isaccessible from the exterior of the apparatus so that the customer mayremove slugs or recovered coins therefrom. Tube 18 is fixedly mountedthrough the horizontal flange 19 of the angle bracket which supportsescrow device 11. Such support bracket also has a vertical flange 21which is suitably secured to panel 14.

When a suitable United States coin is inserted into the coin mechanismand slug rejector 10, it passes from chute 16 to the lower right side ofcasing 17 (Figure l) and then drops into a cup portion 22 of the escrowdevice. It may then be transferred from the cup portion Z2.either into atube 23 leading to coin return box 12, or into a tube 24 leadingdownwardly through an open ing 26 into the coin storage box 13. Theupper ends of tubes 23. and 24 terminate at the horizontal flange -19 ofthe escrow device support bracket, being welded or otherwise securedaround annular openings 27 and 28, respectively, in such flange. Theopenings 27 and 28 are spaced apart a predetermined distance, as shownin Figures 2 and 3, which is preferably at least equal to the diameterof the lower operative portion of cup 22.

The cup 22 of escrow device 11 comprises a lower operative portion 31which takes the form of a vertically arranged tube welded or otherwisesecured onto the upper centralportion of a horizontally disposed sectorplate 32. A lateral or side portion 33 of cup 22 is formed integral withportion 31 but spaced a substantial distance above plate '32, the wallarrangement being such that the portions 31 and 33, when viewed fromabove as in Figure 2, are generally arcuate or obloid in shape. .Thelower wall 34 (Figure l) of portion 33 is inclined downwardly towardportion 31, so that coins falling onto wall 34 will slide into portion31.

Sectorplate 32 is disposed in sliding, flatwise engagement with'theupper surface of flange 19, its apex being pivoted thereto at a point 36relatively adjacent vertical flange 21. The sector plate is formed witha round opening which corresponds to and registers with the lower end ofportion 31 of the cup, the result being that coins which fall into thecup 22 aresupported on the upper surface of flange 19 at all timesexcept when the cup portion 31 is registered over either of the openings27017 28 which lead to tubes 23 and 24.

Pivot 36, and openings 27 and 28, are so related that cup portion 31 maybe registered either with opening 28, as shown in dotted lines in Figure3, or with opening 27 as shownin phantom lines therein. Cup portion'31may also be located in an intermediate position (Figure 2) between theopenings 27 and 28, at whichtirne the coins are supported on the uppersurface offlange 19 tered with opening 27, as shown in phantom lines inFigure 3. An opening 38 is provided in panel 14 to .pivotal movement ofthe sector plate.

horizontal support flange 19.

receive the lateral cup portion 33 when the portion 31 is in suchposition.

The coin mechanism and slug rejector 10 is so located that coins willdrop directly into lower cup portion 31 when the latter is in itsreceiving or neutral position between openings 27 and 28, as shown inFigures 1 and 2. When the cup 22 is pivoted to the position shown insolid lines in Figure 3, cup portion 31 being registered with opening28, lateral portion 33 is in a position to receive coins from mechanism10. Such coins immediately slide down wall 34 into portion 31, andthence directly through .tube 24 to coin storage box 13.

The mechanism 10 includes one (or more) coin switches 41 and 42 havingarms 43 which are actuated, respectively, by different denominations ofthe coins which drop through the mechanism. When the switches 41 and 42are thus actuated they transmit electrical signals to a totalizer deviceA (Figure which, after introduction of the required number of coins,initiates operation of the electrical control B for cup 22 to result inshifting of the latter into registry with tube 24 leading to the coinstorage box.

The escrow device 11 includes an electrical actuating mechanism 44,connected to control B, for effecting the above-indicated shifting ofcup 22 after the required number of coins have been introduced into theapparatus. Mechanism 44 is linked, in a positive manner, to cup 22 foreffecting positive shifting thereof into registry with tube 24, when theelectrical actuating mechanism is energized, despite any attempts of theoperator of the apparatus to achieve a return of previously insertedcoins.

The electrical actuating mechanism is illustrated to comprise a solenoid46 mounted on panel 14 to the right of-cup 22,'as viewed in Figure 1.Solenoid 46 has a plunger. 47 which is pivotally connected by a link 48to a post 49 (Figure 4) on sector 32. Post 49 is located relativelyclose to pivot 36, between the pivot and cup portion 31 (Figure 2), sothat a relatively short stroke of the solenoid plunger 47 will produce asubstantial The length of link 48 is such that cup portion 31 isregistered with opening 28 and tube 24 when solenoid 46 is energized andits plunger 47 fully retracted.

Escrow device 11 further includes manually operated means 51 yieldinglyconnected to the cup 22to shift the latter into registry with opening 27and tube 23 when, and only when, solenoid 46 is not energized. Thus, as

will be described hereinafter, the electrical actuating mechanism 44dominates over the manually operated means 51 to prevent any coin returnaction after the vending machine has commenced to operate.

Means 51 comprises a manually operable knob 52 which is fixedly mounted(externally of the vending apparatus) on a shaft 53, the latter beingsuitably journalled in the upstanding flanges 54 of a bracket 56 on Atriangular plate or crank 57 is fixedly mounted on shaft 53, beingpivotally connectedat its lower corner (Figure 4) to a rod 58.

Rod 58 extends from plate 57 toward the cup 22, the

latter being disposed between shaft 53 and solenoid 46.

wise rotation of knob 52 and crank 57, as viewed in Figures l and 4, rod58 will be shifted to the left. This will cause washer 63 to operatethrough spring 64 in a ,manner causing link 62 to shift tothe left.This, in turn, causes'clockwise rotation (Figures 2' and 3) of sector 32to the position shown in phantom lines in Figure 3, with stop 37terminating such rotation at the time that cup portion 31 is registeredwith opening 27. The above can only occur, however, when solenoid 46 isnot energized and there is, accordingly, no substantial resistance tothe rotation of sector 32. Such rotation of the sector effects outwardshifting of solenoid plunger 47, which is possible since the plunger isrelatively long.

It is emphasized that when the solenoid.46 is energized to retract itsplunger 47, sector 32 is shifted counterclockwise to the position shownin solid lines in Figure 3. It is held in such solid line position bythe positive action of link 48, and despite any rotation of knob 52. Theenergization of the solenoid has the efiect of com pressing spring 64 tothe condition shown in Figure 3, washer 63 then being shifted awayfromear 61. Any rotation of knob 52 at this time operates through shaft 53,crank 57 and rod 58 to effect further compression of the relatively weakspring 64. Such compression does not, however, have any effect upon thecup 22 since the latter is positively held in registry with opening 28as desired.

A second rod 66 is connected tov crank 57 and also to a component (notshown) of the coin mechanism and slug rejector 10. Such rod operates toclear the coin mechanism upon turning of knob 52 to. coin-returnposition.

which is such that cup 22 is in the neutral position (Figures 1 and 2)between openings 27 and 28.

A switch 69 associated with solenoid plunger 47 is electricallyconnected to the totalizer device A referred to above. The function ofswitch 69 is to reset the totalizer to zero upon each shifting of cup 22to the coin return position shown in phantom lines in Figure 3. This hasthe effect of cancelling out any totalizing action upon each return ofinserted coins, so that a subsequent insertion of coins will not producevending until the required total is introduced into the apparatus.

Operation To summarize briefly the operation of the above-describedapparatus, let it be assumed that the parts are initially in thepositions shown in Figures 1 and 2, which are the positions assumedbetween vending operations. Upon insertion of a slug or foreign coininto chute 16, the mechanism 10 operates to drop such slug into tube 18and thence into the coin return box 12. Upon insertion of a desiredUnited States coin into chute 16,'the mechanism 10 transfers such coinpastone of the coin switch arms 43 (depending upon the denomination ofthe coin) and into open-bottomed cup22. Upon insertion of the last coinmaking up the coin total, engagement of such coin with a switch arm 43will immediately effect energization of solenoid 46. This operates, asabove described, to retract plunger 47 and effect, through link 48 andpost 49, shifting of cup 22 to the position shown in solid lines inFigure 3. The inserted coins are thus slid along the upper wall offlange 19 and drop through opening 28 into tube 24, from whence theypass through opening 26 into coin storage box 13.

The operation of solenoid 46 is so fast that the last coin inserted intochute 16 normally drops onto wall 34 instead of directly into portion31. As soon as solenoid 46 is de-energized, cup 22 is pivoted back toneutral position due to the bias of spring 67 (Figure 1). After theinsertion of less than the required number of coins into the mechanism,the operator may obtain return of the coins merely by rotating knob 52clockwise to cause shifting of cup 22 to the phantom line position inFigure 3. The coins are then slid along flange 19 into opening 27 andthence through tube 23 to coin return box 12.

The operator may not obtain return of the coins after solenoid 46 isenergized, since the positive connection 48 between plunger 47 and thecup 22 prevents such action. Any rotation of knob 52 at that time merelyeffects compression of weak spring 64, and has no efiect upon the cup.

If the operator inserts the last coin required for a vending operation,and then turns knob 52 before switch arm 43 is engaged, he will achievereturn of previously inserted coins but no vending operation will occur.This is because shifting of cup 22 to the coin return position operatesthrough switch 69 to cancel the totalized effect of the previouslyinserted coins.

If the operator turns knob 52 immediately after an arm 43 of a coinswitch is engaged by the last coin required for a vending operation,vending will still occur since the immediate energization of solenoid 46upon engagement of the switch arm 43 causes immediate shifting of cup 22to a position in registry with tube 24. Such last coin will normally, asabove stated, drop into lateral portion 33 and will then slide down wall34 into cup portion 31. Any turning of knob 52 has no efiect other thanto compress the spring 64.

From the above it will be understood that the totalizer A will producethe desired result under all conditions of operation. There is nopossibility of jamming of the mechanism, or of other mis-operationswhich have frequently occurred with conventional totalizers.

Various embodiments of the present invention, in addi tion to what hasbeen illustrated and described in detail, may be employed withoutdeparting from the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. An escrow device, which comprises means to define a coin supportsurface, a plate mounted on said coinsupport surface in sliding fiatwiseengagement therewith, said plate having an opening therein, anopen-bottomed cup mounted on said plate and registered with saidopening, a first opening in said coin-support surface and adapted toregister with said opening in said plate in one position thereof, asecond opening in said coin support surface and adapted to register withsaid opening in said plate in a second position thereof, said first andsecond openings in said coin-support surface being spaced apart topermit coins disposed in said cup to rest upon said coinsupport surfacewhen said cup is between said first and second openings, a coin storageelement adapted to reeive coins from said first opening in saidcoin-support surface, a coin return element adapted to receive coinsfrom said second opening, in said coin-support surface, a solenoid,positive link means to positively connect the plunger of said solenoidto said plate and cup, said solenoid operating through said plunger andlink means to shift said plate to said one position upon energization ofsaid solenoid, manually operable means, and yielding link means toconnect said manually operable means to said plate and cup for shiftingof said cup to said second position upon operation of said manuallyoperable means.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said yielding linkmeans includes first and second elements one of which is connected tosaid manually operable means and the other of which is connected to saidplate and cup, said elements being adapted to shift longitudinallyrelative to each other, and relatively light spring means tending tomaintain said elements in predetermined relative longitudinal positions.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which means are provided tomaintain said cup in a central position intermediate said first andsecond openings at all times except during operation of said solenoid orsaid manually operable means.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which a slug rejector isprovided above said cup and includes coin switches adapted to beoperated by coins of various denominations upon passing of said coinstherethrough, said coin switches being connected to a totalizer meansadapted to effect energization of said solenoid upon pas sage of apredetermined total value of coins through said coin mechanism, and inwhich switch means responsive to said shifting of said cup to secondposition are provided to reset said totalizer.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said cup includes -alateral portion adapted to receive coins after shifting of said plate tosaid one position, said lateral portion having an inclined bottom walladapted to efiect the shifting of coins from said lateral portion intothe portion of said cu-p which registers with said first opening in saidcoin support surface.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said plate is pivotallymounted on said coin-support surf-ace, and in which said solenoidplunger and said manually operated means connect to said plate at apoint relatively adjacent the pivot connection and between said pivotconnection and said cup.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS446,970 Graf Feb. 24, 1891 845,045 Barnes Feb. 26, 1907 2,333,176 HobanNov. 2, 1943 2,562,795 Kelly July 31, 1951 2,606,639 Dolman Aug. 12,1952 2,693,299 Gross Nov. 2, 1954

